Nebraska

Sun Valley Lanes & Games

Location: Lincoln, Nebraska
Website: https://www.sunvalleylanes.com/
64 employees

John Losito first joined Sun Valley Lanes & Games as a pinspotter mechanic in 1988 while bowling for the University of Nebraska. After college, he began a pro bowling career that took him on tour and then to the Philippines as national coach, but he returned to Nebraska in the ’90s and became sole owner of Sun Valley in 2011. John has since transformed the alley, encouraging more open play in addition to league bowling, and adding laser tag, mini golf, and outdoor games like sand volleyball and cornhole. “We’re in the business of fun, and we try to make memorable experiences for all of our guests,” John says. After an expansion in 2022, Google Search helped Sun Valley fill the space. “Google is important for finding new customers. Probably 80–90% search ‘fun things to do in Lincoln’ and we come up,” John says. Revenue increased by around 130 percent, and John estimates that he now serves 40,000 unique customers per year.

Sun Valley used Google Analytics to help them redesign their online reservation system. “Around 70 or 80 percent of people would drop off because our system was clunky,” John explains. “Analytics was very important in determining how to revamp it, and now it’s more like a 70-to 80-percent closure rate.” They use Gemini to generate marketing ideas, edit photos, draft emails, and craft responses to reviews. Sun Valley’s general manager, Brian Kleinknecht, even uses Gemini to generate code to quickly build apps. One such app calculates how to split staff tips, turning a 15–20 minute daily task into a three minute task. Another, which Brian got up and running in 20 minutes, manages laser tag reservations. “I don’t think everybody understands the depth of the potential of Gemini,” John says. “When you look at Brian, with no knowledge of coding at all and then creating this app in less than half an hour to make our lives easier, it’s absolutely amazing that this exists.”

Elevator

Location: Omaha, Nebraska
Website: https://www.elevatorspaces.com/
15% of 2024 members from Google Ads

Before they founded Elevator, Emiliano and Shannon Lerda ran a home-based, online pet supply company–which took over their entire house. Commercial warehouses, they found, were too big, gritty, and costly to meet their needs. Then Shannon had an idea for a “co-warehousing” space where businesses could share amenities. “It was a lightbulb moment,” Emiliano says. “We knew we could do this together.” The couple founded Elevator in 2021 in a historic, four-story brick building in Omaha, with 56,000 square feet of space. It’s now home to 100+ companies–from craftspeople to contractors. Along with renting offices, studios, workshops, and warehouse spaces, Elevator provides shipping and receiving services, plus help with accounting, marketing, and other topics, including how to use Google Ads to elevate your business. Even before opening Elevator’s doors, they used Google Ads to attract people searching for office or warehouse space.

“Google Ads has been one of our most powerful marketing and recruiting tools,” Emiliano says, noting that Ads accounted for 15 percent of their 2024 members. They use AI-powered Performance Max campaigns to reach customers, while Google Analytics helps them learn more about their audience. Their Business Profile offers hours, directions, photos, and reviews, and their YouTube channel gives potential members, partners, and investors a tour of the facility, along with Elevator community success stories. Google Workspace helps them communicate, collaborate, and stay organized. They plan to open four more Midwest locations in 2025, and Google Ads is helping them reach new customers. “We love how Elevator helps small businesses grow, collaborate, and thrive,” Emiliano says. “It’s more than just providing space; it’s about fostering a supporting environment where entrepreneurs celebrate their wins.”

Maxwell

Location: Omaha, Nebraska
Website: https://www.maxwell.app/
2X growth in 2023

For Adriana Cisneros Basulto, her brand of instant recognition hits different: “It’s not because you did your job–that’s your paycheck. This shows that your employer cares about you.” As an HR professional, Adriana knew that workers who feel valued do better and stay with their employer longer. But she also knew companies find it hard to tailor rewards to each employee’s needs. So in 2020, she and Stephen Enke co-founded Maxwell. It’s a one-stop app that leverages a lifestyle spending account (LSA) to provide instant recognition and lifestyle benefits to staff. The result is higher retention and better work-life balance. Employers can recognize their staff with a monthly stipend and/or ad-hoc rewards that accrue in their LSA. Employees can use their rewards in-app to send recognition to their peers, on the Maxwell marketplace, or off-app using their Maxwell Visa card on what matters to them. Maxwell caters to the healthcare industry, where retention is a critical issue.

In 2023, Maxwell was a recipient of the Google for Startups Founders Funds, which includes funding and mentoring. “Google’s belief in us has opened doors and helped us get the word out,” Adriana says. As Maxwell grows, they’re taking advantage of AI-powered tools. “AI helps us run more efficiently,” Adriana notes. “It summarizes information, cleans up our communications, and reduces administrative work.” She uses Gemini to gather info and draft outlines for blog posts, freeing her up to write them, and Maxwell is exploring how to use AI to better personalize the employee experience for their customers. They doubled their user base in a year, and Adriana is focused on new ways to help clients retain staff and provide “joyful moments” to their users. “Hearing how employees use their LSA is incredibly heartwarming,” Adriana says. “It’s so fulfilling to know that we’re playing a part in bringing them joy.”

Caspian Creates

Location: Kearney, Nebraska
Website: https://caspiancreates.com/
50% revenue growth in 2022

Nebraska photographers Karsen Felzien and Quinten Saathoff learned about the power of online marketing early. Their investment in SEO on their website paid off when they were found and hired by National Geographic to take photos for Loyal, a book about service dogs. Soon they began sharing tips with other local businesses that wanted to raise their visibility. Looking for a way to further increase their impact, Karsen and Quinten launched Caspian Creates in 2020, a digital marketing, advertising, and content studio. “For us, it’s all about helping other people realize their creative visions,” says Karsen, the company’s CMO. Using Google tools, Caspian Creates has helped local businesses move online, stand out, connect with new customers, and grow–especially valuable for those brick-and-mortar stores whose trade was impacted by COVID-19.

Today, Caspian Creates uses Google Analytics to show clients how users interact with websites and ads, so they can make data-driven decisions. “We show clients exactly which demographics they should focus on,” says Quinten, the company’s CEO. Google Workspace tools streamline operations: the company organizes and shares client files via Google Drive. Workflows set up with Google Forms and Google Sheets have reduced client onboarding time from two weeks to 15 minutes. A self-described “automation nerd,” Quinten appreciates Google’s integration with other apps. “It allows us to focus on being creative and not get stuck in the weeds doing paperwork,” he says. Caspian Creates has served more than 60 clients in eastern and central Nebraska. Their revenue grew 50 percent in 2022; their goal for the future is to keep making technology more accessible to rural businesses. “Never underestimate the power of digital tools,” Karsen says. “If we hadn’t taken advantage of Google tools, we wouldn’t have reached where we are today as quickly as we did.”

eCreamery

Location: Omaha, Nebraska
Website: https://ecreamery.com/
2X increase in YoY revenue

Before dipping into the ice cream trade, Abby Jordan and Becky App worked in fine jewelry and giftware, crafting gifts for all occasions. The pair set out to start their own business, looking for an unfulfilled niche in the gift industry. Flowers and candy were easy to find online and get delivered to someone’s door. “But no one was shipping ice cream,” Abby says. After figuring out the logistics of reusable coolers and dry ice, the two launched eCreamery Gourmet Ice Cream and Gelato in 2007 as both a retail website and store in Omaha. With eCreamery, customers could customize pints with personal messages and company logos. They used Google tools to market their business from the start. “Google Analytics helped us determine referral traffic and optimize our landing pages for organic traffic,” Abby says. They could even see which flavors people were searching for, like butter brickle (popular in the Midwest), and green tea (added as a result of that search insight).

A Shark Tank appearance in 2012 put eCreamery on the national map, and in 2019, they merged with Carson’s Cookie Fix–opening a second eCreamery shop in Omaha. When both stores temporarily shut down during the COVID-19 pandemic, the team rallied around the e-commerce side of the business. In 2020, they shipped to all 50 states and doubled their year-over-year (YoY) online revenue. “Google Ads made sure we appeared in the right places, where people were looking for a heartfelt, delicious, personal gift,” Abby says. Their Google Business Profile gives visitors the scoop on store locations, hours, and flavors, as well as reviews. With the increase in sales, Abby and Becky are able to give back through their Scoops of Support initiative, supporting arts, sports, and youth services nonprofits. “We love our family of customers,” Abby says. “Google helps us let people know ice cream gifts exist.”

EatMoveRest

Location: Lincoln, Nebraska
Website: https://eatmoverest.com/
+70K YouTube subscribers

Dusty and Erin Stanczyk were successful high school athletes. But as they got older, they realized that staying fit—both physically and mentally—required a plan and a more holistic approach to health. So they founded EatMoveRest in 2015 to help people like them all across the globe find recipes, workout plans, and mindfulness exercises designed with total-body wellness in mind. “It’s super empowering, sharing our experiences and connecting with people on issues, like mental health, that affect us all,” Erin says. From day one, Dusty and Erin have used digital tools to build the EatMoveRest community. They created a popular YouTube channel to post weekly videos, use Google Drive to share content like recipes and e-books with customers, and stay connected with their community and potential brand partners with Gmail.

When COVID-19 forced millions into their homes, mental health and physical wellness became more important than ever. EatMoveRest began offering online group classes and one-on-one coaching sessions via Google Meet. They turned to YouTube to share encouraging videos that help their community stay connected, even during quarantine. And as corporate pursestrings tightened everywhere and brand sponsorship opportunities dwindled, Dusty and Erin pivoted to selling recipe books and meal plans on their website, unlocking a whole new stream of e-commerce revenue. Today, 90 percent of EatMoveRest’s customers and partners find them through Google, and they are in talks with a health and wellness channel to bring EatMoveRest to television. “We get to do what we love every day, and that’s helping people,” Erin says. “No matter how I fall asleep the night before, I wake up in the morning excited about what the day holds.” And there’s no better health plan than that.

Artifact Bags

Location: Omaha, Nebraska
Website: artifactbags.com
11 employees

When Chris Hughes lost his job during the Great Recession, he found himself re-evaluating what he could do to make a living. Drawing on his passion for vintage military style and utilitarian design, Chris started Artifact Bags in his basement studio in 2010. Using a secondhand sewing machine, he began making bags, aprons, and accessories from domestically sourced fabric and hardware. Chris quickly launched an e-commerce website and began selling his products on other e-commerce platforms. “I read pretty much every business book I could get my hands on so I could understand all the operational aspects of scaling a business,” said Chris. But it wasn’t until one of his bags was reviewed on two popular websites that business really started to take off. “I immediately received hundreds of orders, and while that was great, I realized I needed to figure out how I could fully capitalize on this opportunity,” he said.

At first, Artifact Bags relied on word of mouth to drive customers to its website. “I had an ‘if you build this, they will come’ approach,” said Chris. While Chris received press from his approach, he had to make sure his website was visible to people searching for his bags, so he turned to Google for help with search engine optimization. Products like Google Search Console and Google Analytics helped him measure organic search traffic and website performance — both of which he still uses today. “50% of our online traffic comes from Google organic search,” Chris said. The Artifact Bags team also relies on G Suite apps like Gmail, Calendar, Docs, and Drive to collaborate and stay organized.

Since opening, Artifact Bags has grown more than 20% year over year, and Chris plans to launch a dedicated apron site this year. With Artifact Aprons, Chris plans to use Google Ads to reach people who are searching for aprons or similar items. “Digital marketing has become much more sophisticated in the last several years,” said Chris. “We can tailor our message to the individual.” As his company continues to grow, Chris is looking forward to donating more of his products and profits to charitable causes. He is proud of overcoming unemployment and being able to provide jobs for others. “It blows me away to see all these talented artisans that we’ve been able to bring into the fold,” said Chris. “We feel really proud that we’ve been able to go against the grain and create this thing that we put our hearts and souls into.”

Sand Creek Post & Beam

Location: Wayne, Nebraska
Website: www.sandcreekpostandbeam.com
50+ employees

The foundation for Sand Creek Post & Beam was laid in 2004, when Len Dickinson and Jule Goeller produced their first barn kit in their driveway, and shipped it to Grinnell, Iowa. They soon set up shop in the nearby college town of Wayne, and since then have designed and shipped kits for customized barns for every purpose, from housing livestock to hosting weddings. “They wanted to create something that was new but focused on our rich rural heritage, using traditional timber framing methods, and was safe for the environment,” says Marketing Director Cody Wortmann. The business now also offers post and beam wood kits for rustic-style residential homes and has grown by about 90 percent in the past five years.

Sand Creek Post & Beam invests heavily in the web to reach customers beyond Nebraska. “I would say 95 percent of the time people who buy our structures won't have actually seen one in person,” explains Cody. “So it’s crucial to show them as much as we can online.” When he took over as Marketing Director in 2013, Cody ramped up efforts to reach these potential customers through AdWords, Google’s advertising program. “We have such a niche product, so the ability to target our advertising to folks who are looking for exactly what we're doing has been extremely efficient compared to print or traditional TV,” he says. As much as 70 percent of their advertising budget is now digital. “Our growth in online led to our biggest year ever,” he shares.

Today, Sand Creek Post & Beam structures can be found in 48 states and five Canadian provinces. “We have trucks heading to California, Texas, and all over the nation, out of a town of 5,000 people,” says Cody. More expansion is in the blueprint for Sand Creek Post & Beam. A record number of inquiries from interested customers came in 2017—and growth for the business means growth for the community they call home. “Small businesses are a big part of Wayne,” Cody says. “A big reason the owners chose to come here was the strong work ethic and sense of caring found in the community. In a small town, employing over 50 people definitely makes an impact at the local level. And that’s pretty cool.”

Speedway Motors

Location: Lincoln, Nebraska
Website: www.speedwaymotors.com
300 employees

“Speedy” Bill Smith founded Speedway Motors in 1952 using a $300 loan from his wife, Joyce. Theirs was one of the first speed shops in the Midwest, which they started in a tiny building on 22nd Street. Today, Speedway Motors is under the leadership of the couple’s four sons. They operate out of a 500,000-square-foot facility and manufacture automotive parts for car enthusiasts around the world. Like Speedy Bill—a racer and street rodder himself—the Speedway Motors team is passionate about racing and rodding. “We’ve built the projects that our customers are building. We’ve raced on the tracks that they’re racing on. We are our customers. And it’s that ability to empathize and provide expert service that has made us a recognized leader in these industries,” says Director of E-commerce Aaron Remaklus.

Speedway Motors launched their first website in 2000 when they noticed consumer behavior shifting from catalog-based phone orders to online orders. “More and more of our customers are now online and engaging with us across multiple channels,” says Aaron. The company uses AdWords, Google’s advertising program, to market their products to customers nationwide. “It’s the best tool that we’ve had to demonstrate that we can advertise profitably, drive traffic, and see healthy growth,” he adds. They turn to Google Analytics to ensure that they are spending their digital advertising dollars as effectively as they can. And with over 500 videos and 25,000 subscribers, their YouTube channel has been “a great tool for capturing who we really are, sharing our passion, and demonstrating to car enthusiasts that we get them—that we're here to make their dreams come true," explains Aaron.

Speedway Motors is proud to call Lincoln, Nebraska, home. “A lot of innovative ideas are coming out of the Midwest. We're excited that a lot of it is happening here, and that we can be part of it,” says Director of Marketing Betsy Grindlay. The company creates numerous jobs for local university graduates, and supports the Museum of American Speed, which Bill and Joyce founded in 1992 to help preserve the history of hot rods. “Being able to employ more people, give back to the things you’re passionate about, and see your community grow is the best part for us,” Betsy adds. As they look to the future, Speedway Motors aims to become the resource automotive enthusiasts turn to for advice, knowledge, and expert help. “Whether this is a new passion that you’ve just discovered, or you’ve been doing this for decades, we want to be your go-to destination,” Aaron shares.

iFixOmaha

Location: Omaha, Nebraska
Website: www.ifixomaha.com
14 employees

Anyone who's had a wireless device break knows the panic that subsequently sets in. It needs to be fixed—and fast. Jason DeWater, who’d been tinkering with things since sixth grade, had a passion for repairing microelectronics. When his brother-in-law's iPhone earpiece speaker broke, he fixed it. This led to him launching a mobile repair service out of his basement in 2012. "Business really took off and grew very quickly," says Jason, who opened his first brick-and-mortar store a couple years later. "We started adding employees with new skills and expanding our portfolio of what we can fix." iFixOmaha now repairs smartphones, tablets, and laptops. In two short years, they’ve grown to four locations as well as onsite and concierge services.

From the very beginning, Jason has used Google tools to run his business. He relies on AdWords, Google's advertising program, to bring gadget-frazzled customers to his website and storefronts. "Our biggest advertising bang for the buck is AdWords," he says. “It outperforms any advertising you can imagine, and we’ve tried them all.” Jason estimates 50 percent of business comes from AdWords, with sales increasing 40 percent per year. “What’s really incredible is that every time we increase our ad spend, our sales grow proportionately. It’s like a limitless well.” Google Analytics also enables him to better understand his customers and adapt the business to “meet the services they’re actually looking for.” Google Sheets and Calendar let him track internal workflow, manage inventory, and coordinate work shifts among all four locations. And Google My Business bolsters his online presence with hundreds of customer reviews and 360-degree virtual tours of his stores.

The more Nebraskans go wireless, the more they need iFixOmaha. In 2016, the business had 10,000 customers and saw an increasing demand for other services, such as the installation and repair of integrated home wireless systems. This year, Jason plans on doubling the number of stores and adding staff to meet the growing need. "The secret sauce behind how we were able to outgrow our local and even national competitors is we embraced the power of Google, right out of the gate." Thanks to iFixOmaha, Nebraskans no longer need to worry about their wireless devices failing them. “We can fix anything here,” says Jason.

Cutting Edge Business Cards

Location: Omaha, Nebraska
Website: www.cuttingedgebusinesscards.com
Cutting Edge Business Cards had a 700% increase in revenue from 2014 to 2015

Cutting Edge Business Cards is a veteran-owned business that produces high-quality print and design products. "A business card is like a handshake," says co-founder Jamie Kadavy. "It should be strong and sturdy." Since their founding in 2013, the Omaha-based company has relied on their Internet presence not only to spread the word around the region, but to draw clientele from other states and even other countries. “Truly, as a small business, we have found a national presence,” Jamie says.

Google My Business has helped power the company's rapid, triple-digit growth. Most customers find them via their Google business listing, which appears on Google Search and on Google Maps. "Three-quarters of all our search engine traffic originates from Google," Jamie says. AdWords, Google's advertising program, lets Jamie target specific markets. "One of the greatest things about AdWords is I can pick what type of audience I’m looking for, where I want them to be located, and specific keywords I want to pursue," he says. Google Analytics provides detailed information on customer traffic (sales come from as far away as Alaska, Hawaii, and Germany), while Google Search Console helps Jamie keep the website tuned up and responsive to customers' needs.

They now serve 1,200 customers and the business shows no signs of slowing down. "It doesn't matter if they're a multimillion-dollar customer or a startup company, we provide the same service for each individual," Jamie says. His a-ha! moment came when a client landed $8 million in business by handing out just eight business cards. "My business partner, Troy, and I joke that each of those cards is worth $1 million." Jamie plans to expand company promotions using Google+ and YouTube as they strive to become a nationally recognized brand. "We've integrated Google into our daily operations," he says. "We can directly attribute our success to our online presence." His advice to other small businesses? "You've got to get on Google My Business."